∗Corresponding author. Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Keimyung University Kidney Institute, 56 Dalseong-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu 41931, Korea.Department of Internal MedicineKeimyung University School of MedicineKeimyung University Kidney Institute56 Dalseong-roJung-guDaegu41931Korea Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease and has systemic features that can affect all organs. Steroid therapy is an essential treatment option in SLE involving the kidneys, other internal organs, or central nervous system.
A 42-year-old woman with a 10-year history of SLE presented with nonspecific nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. She experienced lupus enteritis 7 years earlier, which was cured with steroid treatment and, since then, had demonstrated stable disease with steroid and disease-modifying antirheumatic drug treatment. Vital signs were stable, and there were no signs of surgical abdomen. Laboratory investigations were normal except for C3 and C4 (69.2 and 7.2 mg/dL, respectively). Abdominal computed tomography revealed typical target sign indicating inflammatory edema of the small bowel (Fig. 1). The patient recovered completely after immediate treatment with steroid pulse therapy under a diagnosis of lupus enteritis.
Lupus enteritis can present with nonspecific symptoms and can lead to fatal intestinal bleeding or perforation. Thus, it is important to diagnose lupus enteritis and start treatment as early as possible. If a patient with SLE presents with nonspecific symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea, lupus activity should be investigated under the suspicion of lupus enteritis.
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